Characterization of rhoGAP. A GTPase-activating protein for rho-related small GTPases

GTPase-activating proteins or GAPs play an important role in signal transduction pathways regulated by GTP-binding proteins. In addition to acting as down-regulators of GTPases, there is growing evidence that they also act as effector molecules required for downstream signaling. PLC-beta 1, the target protein regulated by the heterotrimeric GTPase Gq, has been shown to be a GAP, whereas rasGAP, a down-regulator of the small GTPase ras, may be required for the ras-mediated signals. We have purified a GAP specific for the rho subfamily of small GTPases. Partial sequence analysis of rhoGAP has led to the identification of a family of related proteins which now includes bcr, chimaerin, p190, p85, and 3BP-1. We report here the isolation of a cDNA clone encoding human rhoGAP and the expression of recombinant protein. The full-length protein is 50 kDa and is ubiquitously expressed in mammalian cells. At least three members of the rho family are substrates for rhoGAP, rho, rac, and G25K/CDC42, and they each bind equally well to the protein. In vitro GTPase assays, however, reveal that G25K/CDC42 is the preferred substrate. RhoGAP contains a proline-rich sequence, suggesting that it is an SH3-binding protein.